Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Oral Trauma

Posted January 23, 2017.

Oral or dental trauma can be painful and the treatment can often prove to be costly. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent oral trauma from befalling you. At the same time, you can also take measures to help yourself be better prepared should something happen.

Try to make a concerted effort to break bad habits like chewing on pens and pencils or crunching on ice. This also extends to using your teeth as tools. If you are an athlete participating in rigorous athletic activities or contact sports, you need to use a quality mouthguard. These things can cause chips and fractures in tooth enamel. Even if the damage doesn’t cause pain or heightened sensitivity, the area can later foster tooth decay.

At the same time, it’s well worth the effort to cease all tobacco use. The tar and nicotine it introduces to your mouth can irritate gum tissues, increase healing time after dental work, and increase your chances of developing gum disease. It’s also worth noting that regular tobacco use has been directly linked to at least eight major types of cancer.

Grinding your teeth at night can also pose several threats to your oral health. It could result in chips and fractures on the biting surfaces of your teeth. It could even cause TMJ disorder in the joints that hinge your mouth. In some cases, stress relief techniques or using a night guard when you sleep can help.

It’s also a good idea to stock your first-aid kit with a few common oral healthcare items, like waxed floss, salt packets and topical oral analgesic. Keeping these items readily at hand will help you be prepared for some common oral emergencies.

If you have questions about how to better prevent oral trauma and dental injuries in Carrollton, Texas, you can always call 972-492-1064 to speak to a member of the staff at Jackson Dental.